Food Bank of CNY receiving $382,722 grant

SYRACUSE — The Food Bank of Central New York is receiving a chunk of $4.5 million in grants to help in aiding those who have seen decreases in their food stamps.

The food bank will receive $382,722 to help provide for those who have been impacted by the reduction in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — also known as SNAP and commonly know as food stamps — benefits.

Recent federal cuts to the program will eliminate a total of $302 million of annual SNAP benefits in New York.

Overall, the number of emergency meals reported for 2013 is trending at about 13 percent more than the same time last year, according to the state’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program data.